May 26th, 2024 Norwegian Spirit’s first-ever port call to Japan, kicking off in Tokyo and continuing onwards to 10 cities including Shimizu, Kobe and Naha.(Photo credit: NCL)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, known for world class hospitality and innovation, features three distinctive brands and categories: Norwegian Cruise Line at the very top of premium contemporary space; Oceania Cruises as premium, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises is pure luxury. 

With me today is Ben Angell, the VP and managing director, APAC region for Norwegian Cruise Line. He's an all-around veteran with a background in globally recognized tourism and hospitality brands. Ben will be sharing with us NCL's popular routes among Japanese travelers, and latest trends in the cruise industry.  

Interview and photos by Nana Kinno（Chief Editor, TARO Luxury Media)
 

Profile:
Norwegian Cruise Line
VP & Managing Director, APAC Region  Ben Angell

Norwegian Cruise Line Team (From the left) Japan Rep. Takahiko Yajima, the author, APAC VP & Managing Dir. Ben Angell, and APAC Sales Dir. Damian Borg 

Nana: Thank you for being here.  Please share your background with our readers?

Ben: Thank you for spending your time with us today. I began my career in travel and tourism over 30 years ago, having studied one of the first degrees in tourism in the United Kingdom. I worked for tour operators in the UK, focusing on Caribbean, US, and other destinations, as well as in visitor attractions and airlines. For the past 14 to 15 years, I have been dedicated to the cruise industry, which is my true passion.

I've been with Norwegian Cruise Line for nearly nine years, initially in a tri-brand marketing role across Asia Pacific, and then transitioned to Managing Director just before COVID hit. I've now been in this role for almost five years, working with incredible teams across Asia Pacific, navigating the pandemic, and experiencing an exciting post-pandemic recovery, which has been one of the most thrilling periods of my career.

Nana: What is CLIA, and your affiliation? 

Ben: Cruise Line Industry Association represents cruise lines globally, with almost every cruise ship being a member. CLIA assists in training travel agents on the complexities of cruise products and represents the industry's needs in discussions with governments, infrastructure growth, and port access. I had the privilege of chairing CLIA Australasia for the past two years, ending last Friday. CLIA also consolidates industry statistics, providing valuable insights into growth and post-COVID recovery.

Nana: I am most excited to hear of your latest updates and trends from NCL!  

Ben: At the end of last year, we achieved our best-ever book position with unprecedented forward bookings. This momentum continued into WAVE, the first three months of the year, which is a key booking period. NCL experienced strong consumer demand, surpassing 2019 levels in Asia Pacific. We recently announced the deployment of three ships, Norwegian Spirit, Sun, and Sky. Offering over 50 itineraries focused on Asia, we have the largest deployment in the region. 

These ships provide immersive experiences with extended time ashore – on average of 10 hours in every port, which is more than most cruise lines can claim. I believe this demonstrates our commitment to this region, not only as a destination, but also as a source market. 

A lot of exciting announcements specific to this region, and then most recently, we held an investor day where Harry Sommer, our tri-brand CEO, unveiled our Charting the Course strategy outlining the vision for our future. 
The positive outlook is bolstered by exciting announcements and a robust plan for new ships until 2036, positioning Asia as a key market. Japan's recovery from the pandemic shows promising signs, presenting new opportunities for trade partners to promote NCL cruises locally and internationally.

The most popular destinations for Japanese travellers are predominately cruises in Europe and our unique 7-night Hawaii itinerary. However, with three of our ships cruising locally over the next couple of years, there is an additional opportunity for our trade partners to encourage clients that haven’t experienced our product to consider trailing a cruise closer to home.